All in a day's work?

When Alastair Campbell came to our Annual Member's Day in September, we didn't really know what he was going to speak about. Himself? More than likely. Tony Blair? Possibly. His experrience of mental health? You bet!

But his key message was clear and straightforward: "We all have mental health like we all have physical health. Respect both, good and bad." (from a post on @campbellclaret)

Will the battle for equality be in the workplace? It could well be. If mental health it the last big taboo, then it will be in policy/legislation etc. where the boundaries are set. Public opinion should then follow, but it will take time...time to change'.

Check out some of the pictures from our Annual Members' Day on our website: http://www.leedspft.nhs.uk/news/latest_news/1/237

For more information on mental health in the workplace, have a look at http://www.mindfulemployer.net/

Trans-Mission Complete

France has become the first country in the world to declare that being a transsexual does not mean you are mentally ill. Campaigners hope the French decree, published in February, will have a domino effect worldwide and encourage the World Health Organisation (WHO) to revise its current definition of transsexuality as a “disorder of sexual identity”. Homosexuality was removed from the WHO’s list of mental disorders in 1990. Up to 60,000 people are affected by the change in France.

Article from Monocle Magazine (www.monocle.com)

RETHINK CAMPAIGN: Do you agree your mental health history should not decide whether you are fit for jury service?

Rethink received coverage in The Observer on Sunday 10th January on their jury service campaign which is backed by the Criminal Bar Association. If you agree that whether someone is fit for jury service should be based on their capacity at the time and not their mental health history or whether they are currently managing a mental health condition then please write to the editor of The Observer and let him know you agree with Rethink’s stance in the article.

The Observer - 10th January 2010
Call to lift ban on jury service for people with mental illness
Rethink calls for a consultation on the unfair and discriminatory law that automatically bars anyone "who suffers or has suffered from mental illness...” Rethink’s calls are backed by the Criminal Bar Association and Stephen Fry. A campaign will be launched on Wednesday 13th January.
Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/

To contact The Observer
You can e-mail at: letters@observer.co.uk you need to insert Letters to the Editor in subject field

You can post a letter to:
Letters to the Editor
The Observer
Kings Place
90 York Way
London
N1 9GU
Please note you must make clear whether your letter is for publication or not. If it is for publication then you must supply a full name and postal address, even if you send your comment by e-mail. You can make clear what name and address details you would like to be published.
You can also post a comment at the bottom of the article on the website after creating an account with them.

Thank you.
Contact Vicky Trimikliniotis at RETHINK for more information on (0207) 840 3146

Survey shows that Leeds people have positive attitudes towards those with mental health problems

Results from a recent online survey show that people in Leeds are supportive of people with mental health problems.

The online survey, designed by NHS Leeds and Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust, as part of the national Time to Change campaign, captured the views of nearly 700 people from across Leeds. It found that the large majority of respondents did not believe in many of the myths surrounding mental ill-health.

Of the 695 responses only 2% believed the myth that you cannot work after you have experienced a mental health problem. Other key findings are:
• only 4% of respondents thought mental health problems are rare;
• 85% of those surveyed felt that people who have experienced mental health problems can recover completely; and
• 84% of those surveyed believed that you can be open about mental health problems without fearing you’ll be treated differently.

In addition to de-bunking some of the common myths, survey respondents also showed an open attitude towards people with mental health problems. A large majority agreed that someone with a history of mental health problems should not be excluded from taking public office such as becoming a school governor.

Other key points from the finding include an agreement that the media’s portrayal of people with mental health problems tends to be unfair and leads to stigma. A large proportion of those participating in the survey also believed that their employers would support them should they experience any mental health problems.

Charlotte Hanson, Health Improvement Specialist (Emotional Health and Wellbeing) for NHS Leeds, says “Our survey has been a real eye-opener for us as we expected the results to be less clear cut. It is really encouraging to see that many people in Leeds are able to separate the myths around mental health from the real facts. We will continue to work hard to promote the Time to Change campaign in Leeds as well as publicising other initiatives designed to de-stigmatise mental health problems.”

One survey respondent wrote: “People with Mental Health problems are regarded suspiciously which is not fair, they cannot help getting ill like this, a lot of it stems from society and the way people are treated. It is time to change opinions and give people with mental health problems a chance.”

‘Time to Change’ is England’s biggest and most ambitious campaign to end mental health discrimination. Time to Change aims to improve public attitudes and encourages people to speak openly about mental health problems.

For further information on the campaign visit: http://www.stopstigma-leeds.com/ If you would like to get involved in the campaign you can email your interest to: timetochangeleeds@nhs.net

Inequality is bad for your (mental) health -The Guardian

Mary O'Hara reports that mental health problems are worse in 'rich' nations that are socially unequal - and that individual treatment is not the solution.

Read the Guardian article

Reluctant role model

Mark Brown, editor of One in Four, a magazine aimed at people with mental health problems, says there has never been a better time to have a mental health difficulty. Here he talks to The Guardian's Mary O'Hara about his mission to challenge our stereotypes

Guardian article

A World Without: The Fantastic Five

Former No 10 Communications Director, Alastair Campbell and historian Nigel Jones have penned a special report in support of Time to Change. 'A World Without' looks at five historical giants who shaped the world as we know it, but did so whilst dealing with mental illness; demonstrating that people affected can still make a significant contribution to public life.
Campbell and Jones highlight the achievments of greats such as Winston Chruchill, who helped Britain win World War Two whilst also battling depression, and ask "with mental health stigma so rife today, would a 21st century Britain accept such a politician and enable him to rise to the top job?". The report, which looks at Churchill, Darwin, Nightingale, Lincoln and Curie is published Tuesday 10th February. Alastair Campbell will be giving interviews about the report and his role in Time to Change, throughout the day.

Download 'A World Without' (pdf)